He stormed down the hall, wanting to break something, anything. The annoying part about what she’d said was how bloody right she was.

She had every reason not to trust him and she was smart to hold herself back.

Something he seemed unable to do.

But there’d been a shift this evening as though the dam he’d carefully built to hold back his emotions had cracked and then began to crumble and now it was breaking wide open.

“James,” she called from behind him and the sound of his name on her lips stopped him dead. His father had loved his mother like this. He’d been a pawn to her every whim. She’d been beautiful, even he could remember that. And suddenly he realized why he’d disliked Ainsley so. She had the same power. The power to undo him just as his mother had done to his father.

“What?” he asked as he turned, striding back toward her.

She looked slightly afraid and she lifted her hand to stop him. “Can we…that is to say…I’d like to discuss this in the morning.”

He stopped just in front of her then so that her palm was against his chest. “In the morning?” he wanted to pick her up, carry her back into the room, and make love to her right now.

“I need some time to think and I need to know that you won’t change your mind in the light of day.”

He knew she was right. It was better to wait to make sure, after everything in his past, he could hold onto this feeling. But he doubted he would change his mind now. Something had shifted. His feeling strengthened in a way he couldn’t change. “Fine.” Then grabbing her hand, he slowly removed it from his chest so that he could slip his arm around her and kiss her one last time. “We’ll talk in the morning.”

She clung to him as their lips met again and again and it took every ounce of control he possessed to lift his head and remove his arms from around her.

Slowly she backed back into her room, her eyes never leaving his as she closed the door. He heard the lock click and leaned against the jam.

He was as bad as his father after all. But Ainsley, he had to believe, was a woman of more substance than his mother had been.

If she wasn’t, then he was doomed to repeat the sins of his childhood. And that was the real reason he hadn’t wished to marry. But it was too late to change the course. He simply couldn’t let anyone else have her.

He didn’t bother returning to the party. Instead he made his way to his chamber. She’d been right to say they needed time to think. As he reached his room, he shrugged off his coat and threw himself across his bed.

Closing his eyes, memories of his mother’s indifference flitted through his mind. She’d borne a child because her father had insisted, but she’d never wanted him. She didn’t love him. In fact, she’d hardly paid attention to him. It still made him angry to think about, but he knew in that regard, Ainsley was different. She’d love her children with all her heart.

He wanted to meet the rest of her family. See them together. He was suddenly glad that he’d agreed to escort her home already.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, loud and insistent. For a second, he thought it was Ainsley. Rising from the bed, he crossed the room and yanked open the door to find Ewan standing before him. “Yes?”

Ewan’s eyes were narrowed. “Is Ainsley here?” he rasped.

White fear made him numb for a moment. “She isn’t in her room?”

Ewan blinked several times. “I don’t know. I came here first.”

James let out a growl. “Don’t bloody scare me like that. I thought she was missing.”

Ewan’s head tilted to the side as he assessed the man before him. “I didn’t realize ye’d care so much.”

James took a deep breath and then stepped back. “You might as well come in, I need to discuss something with you.”

Ewan stepped through the door and crossed to the sitting area, making himself comfortable in one of the wingback chairs. “Did ye ruin her?”

James flung himself in the chair across from Ewan. “You are making a great many assumptions, none of them flattering.”

Ewan cracked a smile. “Ye’re right and I’m sorry. I saw the way ye were lookin’ at her tonight though. And when ye both disappeared, I assumed the worst...”

James sighed. “If you must know, I have not ruined her. On the contrary, I’ve asked her to marry me.”

“Another wedding?” Dread laced Ewan’s voice.

“No, not exactly.” James rubbed his temple with his fingers. “She said no.”

“I’m sorry?” Ewan asked, looking completely perplexed.

“Well, she said she would think about it.” James could feel his face creasing into a grimace. “Apparently she has some reservations.”

Ewan stared at him. “Gads, these women will be the death of me.”

James couldn’t help it, he laughed. “Aye, I feel about the same. I’ve avoided serious relationships for fearing that it would be the death of me too. But now, for the first time, I’m considering the other pieces of a relationship. Like having a family with relatives that care and look out for one another. What is the family like? I didn’t have one, not really.”

“They’re wonderful. And meddlesome. And their love seems to extend to me, which is rather amazing. If ye’re looking for a family, then ye asked the right woman. Do you see the crowd that has assembled for the birth of my daughter?”

James paused. He supposed he was looking for one. It had been difficult to be here precisely because this family made him aware of all that he lacked. Ainsley, the worst of the offenders. She made him long for pieces of his past he’d thought gone forever. “And what if I am?”

Ewan leaned forward in his chair. “Good for you. You’ll be a happier man for it. Clarissa told me that you were in the hall outside my room last night.”

James grimaced wondering how much Ewan knew. “I was.”

Ewan leaned forward in his chair. “I’m glad to ken that ye’re serious about Ainsley and that ye’ll do the right thing.”

James swallowed. “I am.”

“Then prove it, by courting her in a way that respects her and that family.”

Bloody bullocks that made sense.

The next morning he made his way downstairs to find Ainsley having breakfast with a hoard of admirers. They sat on either side of her, across from her, stood behind her while each young man vied for her attention. James swallowed hard as he attempted to push down the swell of anger and possessiveness that rose in his chest. This morning he was to prove that he wouldn’t change his mind, that he respected her and her family. He was fairly certain knocking about other gentlemen wouldn’t be considered a success.

It did give him some measure of satisfaction to see that she didn’t seem to be enjoying herself. In fact, she looked quite miserable.

He realized he’d been standing in the doorway watching her when she swung her gaze to him. Her breath hitched and she sat up straighter. Satisfaction made his chest swell.

“Let’s go for an outing,” one of the men called. She didn’t look at the bloke, instead her gaze remained fixed on him.

“A picnic on the beach,” another chimed in.

“In December?” another scoffed. “Have ye gone mad?”

“I think it’s a fine idea,” James chimed in from the doorway and then walked toward the group.

Ainsley narrowed her eyes, her look suspicious. “Why is that?”

He winked at her and watched as she huffed a little breath, her lips turning down. While she looked a touch angry she’d also come alive when her eyes had met his. That was more gratifying than he’d thought possible. “But might I suggest we picnic on my boat? We’ll have the convenience of the cabin should we need it.”

He knew by the silence that the men didn’t want to be on his boat. It was to his advantage. But he also knew that it would be difficult for them to express without giving themselves away.

Ainsley stood, and the men around her followed suit. “Will we get to see the repairs being made?”

“Of course,” he gave her a smile and stepped around one of the suitors, using a discreet elbow to push the man out of the way. He heard his soft grunt and his smile widened. “I’ll give you a tour of the entire ship.”

Several men groaned around him as Ainsley beamed. He was winning. “That does sound lovely.”

“We’ll meet back here in an hour.” He glared around the group attempting to discourage several of the other men from attending as well. Several looked away and he knew he’d been at least partially successful.

She looked as though she wanted to say more. They had a great deal to discuss after last night, but now was not the time. The outing likely wouldn’t be either but at least he could keep an eye on any man brave enough to join them. He wondered if he might be able to toss a few off the side when no one was looking. But his attention focused back on her when she softly spoke. “You came to breakfast.”

The words sounded benign enough. To anyone else listening, it was just about the meal but he knew it was a statement about so much more. “I did. And I’ll be here again tomorrow.”

She arched her eyebrows, but a smile spread across her face. “I will see you in an hour.” She nodded to the other gentlemen as she swept from the room.

He had a moment of triumph as he turned to select a pastry from the buffet when another woman’s voice halted him. He’d been so focused on the men around Ainsley he hadn’t noticed her mother’s attendance. But of course she would be there, chaperoning her daughter. “Lord Rotheport.” Her voice held a tone of disapproval that would have made a lesser man quake.

“Lady McDougal,” he replied, careful to keep his voice neutral. The older woman disconcerted him, really. Ainsley was a younger version of her mother and as he looked at Lady McDougal, he could see the same sparkling green eyes assessing him with just as much shrewdness as her daughter.

“As soon as you’ve eaten, and before the outing, I’d like a word with you. I’ll be waiting in the library.”

“No need,” he said as he turned away from the treats. “Best to discuss this now.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, looking a bit surprised. He hid his grin. It was always better to knock your opponent off guard, not that he wanted to be at odds with Ainsley’s mother. But all the same, he would use every ounce of charm as well as every diversionary technique he knew to gracefully get through this conversation.

He held out his elbow. She looked surprised but placed her hand in the crook of his arm as he escorted her to the library.

Once seated, she looked across at him. “We may as well get straight to the point. What are your intentions toward my daughter?”

He cleared his throat, wondering how many more times he’d have to have this conversation. “Marriage.”

She looked surprised for a moment. “Please do not think ill of me, but I did not peg you as the type.”

“None taken.” He hadn’t pegged himself as the type either. “I hadn’t thought of myself the type either. But then again, Ainsley is like no woman I’ve ever met. I find I can’t deny her a thing. And so I have no choice but to pursue her, really.”

Lady McDougal looked at him as she tried to keep the corners of her mouth from turning up, but she failed miserably and then sat back in her chair with a laugh. “I see. And does she know your intentions?”

“Yes, I’ve made my intentions clear. She is considering my offer and suggested we’d discuss it in the morning.” James grimaced realizing how far he’d fallen. It got worse with every retelling to admit that a little blonde had brought him so low that he was following her around like a pup with a pack of other pups just for a scrap of her affection.

Her mother’s eyes twinkled. “I see.” She cleared her throat. “While I appreciate that you are serious about my daughter, I want you to know that we are a family that loves deeply. You have to be ready for that from both Ainsley and the rest of us. You’ll be like Ewan, with a house full of nosy relatives all telling you what you should do.”

James’s heart beat rapidly in his chest, “I’m sure that I can handle—”

“Did Ewan tell you that my husband tasked him with being Ainsley’s guardian for this trip? He isn’t even Haggis’s son-in-law. He’ll ask things of you that you’ve never imagined. And my daughter, Fiona, she’s going to drive you near mad.”

Taking a deep breath, James had a vision of a large happy family, snapping at each other, bossing one another about. He smiled. “Then I shall circle back to where I began. My childhood wasn’t the happiest. I carry it with me and I thought for a while, I might not have a family of my own but if I did, it would be out of obligation. But with Ainsley, I see a future that will be different for my children then it was for me.”

Lady McDougal looked away for a moment and when she looked back, her eyes glistened with tears. “You’ll fit right in.”

He gave her a grin. “Do you think, Lady McDougal, you might share that with Lady Ainsley?”

“Call me Rhona. And with all due respect, I’ll likely tell her that you are a terrible choice.” Her sparkling green eyes lit with laughter. “Truly awful and that I am taking her home as soon as the wedding is done to escape your evil clutches.”

She’d told him to use her first name and called his clutches evil? “Pardon me?”

“Trust me, I’ll do ye far more good.” She rose then. “Return to breakfast and eat before your outing. You are to be a gentleman and you’re to make sure the others are as well.”

“Yes, my lady,” he replied standing.

She shook her head one more time. “I’m glad you are escorting us home. It will give you a chance to meet Haggis.”

“Will he like me?” he asked, cringing that he cared.

“Likely not. But try not to worry. He doesn’t like any of the men who’ve joined the family this past year.” Her eyes twinkled again as she made for the door. “I’ll send Keiran this morning as well. Just to be safe.”

He raised an eyebrow at that. Apparently she only trusted him so much.